Nicki Minaj Artwork for Raunchy Single Upsets Family of Malcolm X

*Nicki Minajmay have a lot of fans, but the family of slain civil rights icon Malcolm Xis not one of them.

In an exclusive statement released to the Associated Press, Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X, said Minaj’s use of the iconic picture of Malcolm X holding a rifle while looking out a window “in no way is endorsed by our family.”

“Ms. Minaj’s artwork for her single does not depict the truth of Malcolm X’s legacy,” Shabazz’s statement said while alluding to the rapper’s use of the picture as being part of a larger problem in today’s culture.

“Situations like the recent portrayal of our father on the album cover for Ms. Minaj’s new single only highlight the fact that we as a society need to take more responsibility for what we’re teaching our children,” statement noted. “It is our family’s hope that the true legacy and context of Malcolm X’s life continues to be shared with people from all walks of life in a positive manner that helps promote the goals and ideals for which Malcolm X so passionately advocated.”

The Malcolm X picture, which was juxtaposed with the title of Minaj’s new male-bashing song, “Lookin’ Ass Nigga,” is artwork for the tune. Minaj apologized for the controversial photo on Thursday during an interview with New York radio station Hot 97, saying that she wrote “Lookin’ Ass Nigga” to empower women because there are too many songs that attack females.

“It was almost parallel in my opinion because he has this big gun ready to shoot at a lookin’ (expletive) bleep, and that’s how I looked at it,” she said. “I looked at it as this is one of the most memorable people in our history, in black history, who voiced his opinion no matter what, and I understand how my intent was overlooked and I definitely didn’t want to offend his family or his legacy.”

Minaj’s apology comes after she received a backlash of criticism for using the Malcolm X photo for the cover of her tune. The photo was posted on Minaj’s Instagram page and website on Wednesday. According to the rapper, the single cover was “never the official artwork.”

The original photo shows Malcolm X holding a rifle as he was trying to protect his family from death threats; his home had been firebombed.

Among those offended by Minaj’s picture was CMG Worldwide CEO Mark Roesler, whose company handles the licensing and merchandizing issues for the Malcolm X estate. Roesler labeled the Young Money rapper’s use of the photo “dehumanizing.”

“This is a family photo that was taken out of context in a totally inaccurate and tasteless way,” Roesler said in a statement on behalf of the family.

On Friday, L. Londell McMillan, the attorney for the Malcolm X estate and the civil rights icon’s daughters — and estate administrators — Ilyasah and Malaak Shabazz, said released a statement on Friday advising those using the Malcolm X photo to remove it immediately.

“Failure to do so within the next 24 hours shall result in legal action,” said McMillian, who is also the lawyer for Malcolm X’s other daughters, Attallah, Qubilah and Gamilah Shabazz. “The initial act and subsequent acts of distribution were improper and ill-advised. Any disparagement, infringement or disrespect of Malcolm X, and his name, image, likeness and proprietary rights will not be tolerated.”

8 Responses

The level of coonery, buffoonery and tomfoolery escalates each time one of these no talent hacks come out with something new. People have become so desensitized to this sewage that these star imitators have to invent increasingly more depraved material to hold the attention of what seems to be a growing sub culture of people who do not care about quality, creativity and talent when it comes to entertainment. It takes no real imagination or talent to record a song with the word nigga being the main draw. Search You Tube. You can find toddlers doing the same thing all day long – some wearing even fewer clothes, sadly. Because of the total lack of any real talent, clowns like this know that this type of controversy is what will keep people talking. And spending. That’s why they have no respect or reverence for anyone or anything. This is how they make a living. And as long as people are willing to pay top dollar to see and hear the defecation that these a**holes push out, no amount of coon shaming is going to make a difference. Money talks.

Wow Nikki apologize she didn’t mean any harm dam!!!! If Malcolm x was here still he would laugh at u for all this drama!! He would love Nikki thought bout him in a way u all can’t c. She will have Malcolm smiling from all her beauty he would had loved her!! She meant for good when u all took for bad it is a frree country good grief!!! Malcolm x will always be our number 1 Nikki know that to wow leave her alone jealous women only ones really complaining not the men believe that hating a..

Chile, go read a book. Nikki is a grown woman who knows better and if she didn’t, she should have asked somebody. This is what happens when mediocrity is paraded as ‘art’ and too many of our kids eat it up. If Malcolm X was alive, he would’ve took her to the side and give her verbal thrashing. Malcolm would’ve never ‘laughed’ at us because he cared too much about black people to have his own image trivialized. There’s nothing ‘good’ about trivializing a man protecting his family from people trying to kill them. Hope the family takes her the side and talk to her. She needs to understand what she did was offensive.

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